Combined stoker and firedoor



March 3, 1936. E. A. TURNER 2,033,053

COMBINED STOKER AND FIREDOOR Filed Aug. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a- In! N March 3, 1936. E, A, TURNER 2,033,053

COMBINED STOKER AND FIREDOOR Filed Aug. 28, 1951 2 Sheets Sheet 2 QNQ ya. @Q MM 4 Patented Mar. 3, 1936 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIE 2,033,053 COMBINED STOKER AND FIREDOOR Application August 28, 1931,'Serial No; 559,940

Claims.

My invention appertains to stokers of the class which introduce fuel such as coal into the firebox through a firing opening therein, and the main object of the invention is the provision of a combined stoker and firedoor apparatus adapted to permit power and manual delivery of fuel through the conventional form and size of firebox firing openings ordinarily heretofore employed for manual firing only of fuel into the firebox. In carrying out the main object of my invention it contemplates the provision of a lateral and vertical swinging firedoor which serves as a closure for the aforesaid conventional firing opening and at the same time, as a roof or 5 hood portion of the stoker discharge conduit.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in a device of the class described, a fluid pressure operated firedoor having a flared bottom which serves as a hood for the stoker discharge 2'0 conduit and means. for resisting the upward and outward thrust of the flared firedoor whenever an explosion occurs in the firebox which would tend to swing the door open. This phase of the present invention also contemplates the provision 25 of an arrangement whereby the thrust resisting means are released conjointly with the control valve which operates the firedoor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, such as the provision of a readily renewable dis- 3o tributor plate for the stoker, will be apparent to those skilled in the art when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein for purposes of disclosing several practical embodiments of my in- 35 vention it is illustrated and will be hereinafter described as applied to a locomotive, although quite obviously, it is capable of use with other steam generating devices,

On the drawings 40 Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the rearward portion of a locomotive showing the invention in position;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the rearward portion of the locomotive backwall with parts of the 45 combined stoker and firedoor broken away and parts in section to best illustrate the invention;

Figure 3 is a section through the door actuating motor;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section of the latch 50 device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view from within the firebox showing the firedoor opening with parts of the stoker broken away;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1 with the firedoor removed; 5 Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 10 is another view similar to Figure 2 10 showing a still further modification of the invention.

It is usual with stokers of this general form to introduce fuel into the firebox through the lower portion of the firing opening while the upper portion is closed by a pressure fluid operated firedoor of the type shown in the United States Letters Patent Numbered 1,148,581 and 1,171,463 to Elvin et al. and Rosenfelt respectively. Such firedoor is necessary with the use of stokers to permit, at times, the manual firing of fuel and also to gain access to the firebox for the purpose of making repairs.

It has been well established in practice that the opening necessary to permit proper manual firing of the locomotive and to afford access into the firebox should be elliptical, having maximum lateral and vertical dimensions not less than twenty inches and sixteen inches respectively. Heretofore, when installing a stoker of the class which introduces fuel through the firing opening, which opening is also used for manual firing, it has been necessary to increase the vertical dimension of the opening by, in most instances, prolonging the opening downwardly so as to permit the stoker to feed fuel through the lowermost portion of the opening and still retain the necessary opening above the stoker mouth portion for manual firing.

The increasing of the size of the firing opening on locomotives which previously were not equipped with stokers, entailed numerous changes in. the boiler backhead such as the provision of a patch which contained the enlarged firing opening. In. some instances substituting an entirely new backhead has been found expedient. The labor and material necessary to enlarge the firing opening and to relocate numerous cab fittings such as the firedoor itself and numerous valves and gauges are of great expense to the railroads, and hence, increase the ultimate cost of installing the stoker.

On many such stoker installations it has been necessary to introduce the fuel through the boiler backhead. at about the point where the conventional hand firing opening is located in order that the distributing member of the stoker may be at a proper height above the grates. With this condition, the conventional opening has been prolonged upwardly. This caused that portion of the opening for the manual firing of the locomotive to be at a height above the cab deck considerably greater than prior to the stoker installation, thereby rendering manual firing more tedious.

My present invention obviates the aforesaid difiiculties and disadvantages of past practice by providing a novel combined firedoor and stoker arranged to permit both power and manual firing of fuel through the existing conventional form and size of the so-called hand firing opening. It is evident, of course, that the principle of the invention may be carried out for use also with the enlarged openings of past practice where conditions warrant so doing.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown as being applied to a locomotive -A having the usual firebox ill, the grates II, the boiler backwall l2 and the conventional hand firing opening l3. At I 4 is shown the locomotive cab which is provided with a deck l5 a sufficient distance below the lower marginal edge of the conventional hand firing opening l3 to permit ease of manual firing.

The stoker is represented. at B and comprises a discharge conduit l6 which is one of a series of connected conduits leading from a source of fuel supply such as a locomotive tender fuel bin (not shown). The discharge conduit l6 discharges fuel through the lower portion of the firing opening in a manner precisely as shown in United States Letters Patent No. 1,760,221, granted to me May 2'7, 1930. The discharge conduit I5 is similar in construction to the delivery nozzle 260 shown in Figure 2 of my aforesaid patent with the exception that the discharge conduit of the present invention is truncated as at I! adjacent the lower portion of the conventional hand firing opening. In approximately the same plane as the said truncation and extending forwardly from the discharge conduit into the firebox is a distributor plate l8 having a flat central portion l9 and outwardly curving depressions 20, 2M. A nozzle 2| is positioned rearwardly of said distributor plate I8 and is arranged to issue a blast of pressure fluid over the plate acting to project the fuel uniformly over all parts of the grate.

A firedoor, generally indicated by C is provided with a bottom 22 which fits snugly over the truncated portion 11 of the discharge conduit, said bottom being flared outwardly and sidewardly, to form a continuation of the walls of the discharge conduit. This flaring portion of the firedoor extends upwardly a sufiicient distance to permit the advancing column of fuel to rise to a height above the distributor plate I8, without pulverizing pressure being exerted upon it, so that the action of gravity will break the columnar formation of the fuel and place the lower and forward edge of the sloping fuel face forward of the pressure fluid nozzle 2|. Jets of pressure fluid issuing from said nozzle will act upon the fuel and scatter it over the fire, thus assisting the action of gravity in breaking its columnar formation, creating a more or less fixed angle of repose of the fuel dependent upon the constituency of the fuel used.

The firedoor C is provided with a frame 23 suitably mounted on the boiler backhead l2 and partly embracing the firedoor opening which is covered by a pair of door members 24 and 25, pivoted upon suitable pins to swing laterally and vertically. The pivot pins 26 and 21 may be rigidly mounted at their ends in the upper portion of the frame 23, and serve also to support a motor 28, by means of the depending flange 28a.

The pivoted arms of the door members 24 and 25 are provided with the respective gear segments 29 and 30, which mesh together, and both door members are thus opened by means of the link 3!, pivotally attached at one end to the lug 32 of said gear segment 29, and at the other end to a pin 33 carried by the piston 34 and extending through a horizontal slot in the side of the motor 28. One end of the motor is closed by the cap 35 and the piston 34 is operated by pressure fluid admitted through the pipe 36, and controlled by a suitable valve 31. This control valve includes a casing 31a which receives pressure fluid from a supply line 38. Mounted within the casing 31a is a valve member 39 which is responsive to movement of the treadle 49 through suitable arms 4| and 42 to allow the pressure fluid to pass from the casing 31a into the pressure fluid line 43 for operating the firedoor.

Thus far, in all substantial respects the controlling and operating parts as described for the firedoor C are well known in the art as being used with the Franklin butterfly firedoor and form part of my invention here only in combination with other new and novel features hereinafter to appear.

In order to prevent the outwardly and sidewardly flaring door members from being blown open due to explosions which may sometimes occur in the firebox, I have provided a novel thrust resisting means which forms an essential part of this invention. Explosions within the firebox are not frequent, but their occurrence and serious effect has caused laws to be passed which force the railroads to install firedoors which will not be blown open by the explosions, thus preventing the steam and scalding water from injuring the locomotive operators.

In carrying out this aspect of the invention, I have provided a lug 44 which is cast on the upper rearward portion of the discharge conduit and which will be engaged by the outwardly curved bottom portion 22 of the firedoor, thereby preventing the door from being blown outwardly in the event of a boiler explosion.

To prevent the door members from being opened due to a sideward thrust acting on the flared bottom of said members, I have provided a latch arrangement which prevents such outward movement of the firedoor and which is capable of being released whenever it is necessary to open the firedoor. Figures 1 to 8, inclusive show the form of this invention in which the preferred latch arrangement is used. This latch arrangement consists of the cylinders 45', 45a, attached to the side walls of said discharge conduit and housing unbalanced pistons 46, 46a, each being provided with a latch 41, 47a respectively. The upper portion of the cylinders being preferably flush with the top surface of the discharge conduit I6 and the latches 41 and 41a extending upwardly and beyond said top surface to engage the lugs 48, 48a which project outwardly from the firedoor members 24 and 25 respectively. The lower portion of each of said cylinders is covered by the flanged pockets 49, 46a which receive the springs 50, 50a to allow the latches 41, 41a and the lugs 48, 48a respectively to be normally in engagement.

Whenever it is necessary to open the firedoor, the fireman presses the treadle 49 with. his foot, allowing pressure fluid to enter the fluid line 43 from the control valve. The piston 46 then will move downwardly until it rests upon the seat 51, thereby allowing pressure fluid to enter the fluid line 52. This pressure fluid line communicates with the cylinder 45a, and similarly, the

piston 46a will move down to allow pressure fluid to enter the line 36 which will cause the piston 34 to open the door through the connecting links and gear segments. It will be understood that the downward movement of each of the pistons 46, 46a also disengages the latches 41, 41a from the lugs 48, 48w respectively, thereby permitting the doormembers 24 and 25 to swing laterally and vertically. Upon releasing the treadle 49, pressure will evacuate and the fire door will close by the action of gravity; each of the firedoor-members 24 and 25 passing over the bevelled portions 53", 53a of the latches 41, 41a respectively, pressing them downwardly so as to allow-the adjacent facesof the door members to meet. Springs 59, 560. return the pistons 46, 46a and the fingers 41, 47w totheir proper normal position.

At times it is necessary to open the firedoor manually due to lack of pressure fluid, as for instance, when the locomotive is being fired preparatory to starting. To this end I have provided angular stem portions 54, 54a which extend downwardly from the pistons 46, 46a and are engaged by the angular openings 55, 55a. of the pockets 49, 49a respectively. The lower end of each stem being threaded to receive the thumb screws. 56, 56a. Whenever it is necessary to manually operate the firedoor, the thumb screws are turned until the latches 41, 41a are out of engagement. with the lugs 48, 48a, the operator then grasps the bar member 51 and opens the door in the usual manner. The bar member 51 may be placed in any of the notches such as 58 in the event that it is desirable to retain the door in any particular position afforded by these notches. Guard rails 59, 59a are used to prevent personal injuries to the operators and engine crew when the door members are swung open.

It is essential to maintain the use of the full fire-door opening at such times when access to the firebox is necessary, and for this purpose the distributor is arranged to be readily removed from its position in the firing opening. The plate I8 is provided at its rearward portion with downwardly and outwardly extending flanges 60, 60a, which are received in suitable guideways 6|, filo formed with the discharge conduit I6. The central portion I9 of the distributor plate is threaded as at 62 for the application of a stud so that the plate may be readily removed even though subjected to the heat of the fire within the firebox. Locating the distributor plate at the lowermost portion of the conventional firedoor opening affords the maximum opening to be maintained whenever it is necessary to resort to manual firing of the locomotive. Loss of fuel from the distributor plate is prevented by providing the underside of said plate with downwardly and forwardly extending flanges which fit snugly on the lower portion of the firedoor opening sheet.

Figures 9 shows a modified form of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive. In this form, pressure fluid enters the fluid line 43 from the control valve 31, the pressure fluid line 43 communicating directly with the motor 28 for actuating the piston and connected gear segments which open the firedoor. branch from the pressure fluid line 3T and. supply pressure fluid to the cylinders 64, 64a respectively. The cylinders 64, 64a house pistons 65, 65a

which are provided with the latches 66, 66a, en-- gageable by the recesses 61, 61a of the lugs 68, 68a of the door members 24, 25 respectively, thereby preventing the members from being blown open by any abnormal pressure from within the firebox. By providing the lugs 68, 68awith the recesses 61, 61a, the latches 66, 66a are capable of being the sole means of preventing any undue movement of the door members, thereby obviating the use of the lug 44 shown in the preferred form of this invention. The pistons 65, 65a, being of a much smaller diameter than the piston of the motor 28, will therefore, respond to thepressure more quickly than will the motor piston, thus allowing the latches to disengage the lugs 6-8, 68a, permitting the door members 24' and. 25:- to be swung laterally and vertically. In all other aspects, this modified form functions in precisely the same manner as the preferred form.

A still further modification of my invention is shown in Figure 10 wherein a series of links and levers are utilized to release the latches at the sidesof the firedoor. The links and levers are arranged so as to permit the latches to be released before any movement of the motor cylinder piston occurs.

In carrying out this form of the invention, the control valve 3! is mounted on a bracket 68 which has. an outwardly and downwardly projecting arm to serve. as a fulcrum for a lever ill. The lever 10 has its one end H connected to the arm 42 of the treadle 4B and its opposite end connected to the latch bar 72. An arm 13 depends from said lever 19 and is connected to one end of the bell crank 14 by the connecting link 15. The bell crank 14 is pivoted at E6 and has its other end 11 connected to the latch bar 18.

The arm 42 of the treadle 40 is a sufficient dis-- tance below the valve member 39 so that when the treadle 40 is pressed downwardly the levers and connecting links will lower the latch bars 12 and 1! before the valve member 39 allows pressure fluid to enter the pipe 43 for opening the door members 24 and 25. Upon releasing the pressure from the treadle 40, the pressure fluid will evacuate from the motor-cylinder, causing the door members to swing downwardly by the action of gravity. The door members 24 and 25, as they swing downwardly, strike the bevelled edges of the latch bars 12 and 18 causing them to retract in their respective pockets 19 and 80. A spring 8| connected to one end of the lever 10 and having its other end connected to a flange of the discharge conduit I6, is capable of returning the latch bars to their normal locking position.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will recognize that this invention provides a unique, highly useful and practical combination of a stoker and firedoor adaptable to all sizes of locomotives or other steam generating apparatus, and that it can be installed at less expense and. will permit manual firing of fuel when necessary with less physical labor than prior devices.

While several embodiments of the invention are disclosed others are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a firebox having a backwall provided with a firedoor opening there- Pipe sections 63, 63a:

through, a stoker discharge conduit'attached to said backwall, said discharge conduit terminating at its delivery end in an open mouth portion adj acent the' lower marginal edge of said opening, a

1 laterally and vertically swinging door for said firing opening forming a discharge outlet for said stoker discharge conduit, means for swinging said door open laterally and vertically, means for controlling said door opening means, a latch device engaging said door, and means for releasing said latch device, said last named means being operable by said door opening control means.

2. In combination with a firebox having a backwall provided with a firedoor opening therethrough, a stoker discharge conduit attached to said backwall, said discharge conduit terminating at its delivery end in an open mouth portion adjacent the lower marginal edge of said opening, a vertically split door comprised of complementary door members for said opening, said door members being arranged to swing laterally and vertically and having rearwardly and sidewardly flaring bottom portions forming a discharge outlet for said stoker discharge conduit, means for swinging said door members open laterally and vertically, means for controlling said door opening means, a latch device engaging said door members, and means for releasing said latch device, said last named means being operable by said door opening control means.

3. In combination with a firebox having a backwall provided with a firedoor opening, a stoker discharge conduit attached to said backwall, said discharge conduit terminating in an open mouth portion adjacent the lower marginal edge of said opening, a vertically split door for said opening, said door being comprised of a pair of complementary door members arranged to swing laterally and vertically and forming a discharge outlet for said stoker discharge conduit, a fluid pressure operated motor for opening said door members, means for supplying pressure fluid to said motor, a latch device engaging each of said door members, and means for releasing said latch device,

said last named means being operable. by said pressure fluid supplying means.

4. In combination with a firebox having a backwall provided with a firedoor opening therethrough, a stoker discharge conduit attached to said backwall, said discharge conduit terminating in an open mouth portion adjacent the lower marginal edge of said opening, a door for said opening, the bottom portion of said door being flared outwardly and sidewardly to form a discharge outlet for said stoker discharge conduit and being arranged to swing laterally and vertically, a lug at the rearward upper end of said discharge conduit mouth portion, said lug being engageable by the outwardly flaring portion of said door, a lug on the sidewardly fiared portion of said door, a latch engaging said last named lug, and means for disengaging said latch, said means comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder connected to said latch, and means for supplying pressure fluid to said cylinder.

5. In combination with a firebox having a backwall provided with a firedoor opening therethrough, a stoker discharge conduit attached to said backwall, said discharge conduit terminating in an open mouth portion adjacent the lower marginal edge of said opening, a door for said opening, fluid pressure operated means for opening said door, the bottom portion of said door being flared outwardly and sidewardly to form a discharge outlet for said stoker discharge conduit and being arranged to swing laterally and vertically, 2. lug at the rearward upper end of said discharge conduit mouth portion, said lug being engageable by the outwardly flaring portion of said door, a lug on the sidewardly flared portion of said door, a latch engaging said last named lug, and means for disengaging said latch, said means comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder connected to said latch, and means for supplying pressure fluid to said cylinder, said door opening means and latch releasing means being successively operated by said pressure fluid supply means.

E. ARCHER TURNER. 

